Liquid dispensing device



IRJD. CHAMPION ETAL July 6, 1943. v

LIQUID nIsPENS ING DEVICE Filed June 25, 1941 `1)lll/111111111111111lll/lll :E7/0111111111111 4,- a /l Pm/ava d HMP/off, nf Fm',

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ATTORNEY Patented July 6, 1943 UNITED STATES APATENT OFFICE LIQUID DIsPENsING DEVICE Raymond D. Champion, San Gabriel, and Lyle E. Fry, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application June 25, 1941, Serial No. 399,624

(Cl. B21- 102) 2 Claims.

the provision of a fountain tooth brush in the' handle of which is provided a reservoir for liquid dentifrice, and which carries a simple, compact, and yet eiiciently operating pumping mechanism the actuation of which results in forcing a suitable quantity of the liquid to the bristles of the toothbrush.

A further object of our invention is to provide means for sealing the outlet from the pumping mechanism and thereby positively preventing escape of the dentifrice except when the pumping mechanism is actuated.

A still further object is to provide a fountainv toothbrush of the general char-acter indicated, which is of such simple design that its cost of manufacture is low and it has little tendency toward becoming worn, broken, or otherwise 1ncapacitated for useful service, which is of attractive design, and which lends itself readily for quantity production with vall but the actual bristles thereof constructed of one of the molded plastics currently proving so popular.

The invention possesses other objects and valuable features. some of which, with those enumerated, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred embodiment of our invention illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specication. It is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to the showing made by the said drawing and description, as we may adopt variations of the preferred embodiment within the scope of our invention as dened by the claims.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fountain toothbrush embodying the principles of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal, medial, vertical sectional View.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view, the plane of section being indicated by the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 with the direction of view as indicated.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the reciprocable head and the pump part thereby moved to the outer end of their stroke.

Specifically describing the preferred embodiments of our invention, our improved fountain toothbrush comprises the handle portion 6, the shank l, and bristles 8 mounted in the conventional manner upon the outer end of the shank l. The shank 'I is of tubular construction, having a bore 9 extending longitudinal thereof with the outer end of the bore 9 terminating in an outlet II adjacent the base of the bristles 8 as best shown upon Fig. 2 and and Fig. 4.

The handle portion 6 of our toothbrush comprises an enlarged end I2 on the shank l, and

. a head I3 reciprocates thereupon. For this purpose the enlarged end I2 is provided with a slightly reduced cylindrical portion I4 and the associated end of the head I3 is fitted to the cylindri-cal portion I4 suii'iciently tightly to assure against leakage therebetween and yet permit the head I3 to reciprocate upon the cylindrical portion I4.

For the purpose of determining the length of strokes to which the head I3 can be reciprocated upon the shank 'I we have provided a pin I 6 rigid with the cylindrical portion I4 of the shank 'I and disposed slidably within an L- shaped slot Il in the skirt I8, i. e., that portion of the head I3 which is slidably engaged upon the cylindrical portion I4 of the shank l. One leg I9 of the slot II'extends parallel to the axis, i. e., longitudinally of the toothbrush, whereas the other leg 2I of the slot II extends transversely with respect thereto, i. e., circumferentially of the skirt I8. However, instead of Lbeing accurately at right angles with the leg I9 we prefer that the leg 2l be arranged at a slight slope so that its outer end is slightly further away from the extreme associated end of the head I3 so that when the pin I6 is disposed within the leg ZI of the slot and then the head I3 turned with respect to the shank 'I a leverage will be developed between the pin I6 and the head driving the head to the left as viewed upon Figs. 1, 2, and 4.

Upon the outer end of the head I3 a cylindrical extension 26 is secured as by threads 2l. The outer end 28 of the cylindrical extension 26 '1s closed; and inasmuch as the extension 26 is hollow it is adapted to serve as a reservoir to store a supply of liquid dentifrice 29. The threaded engagement between head I3 and the reservoir 26 permits remov'al of the latter for the purpose of replenishing the supply of liquid 29.-

'Ihe head I3 also is of hollow construction and has a spider 3I through the aperture 32 of which the liquid 29 is permitted to ow through the bore 33 of the head I3. The spider 3I carries a structurally disposed plunger 34, the end of which is fitted to and is adapted to enter a compression Ichamber 36 in the proximal end of the shank 1, when the head I3 is reciprocated to the inner end of its stroke, i. e, moves to that position in which it is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

The bore 9 of the shank 1 communicates with the compression chamber 36 through an enlarged portion 31; and a rod 38 carried by and extending axially from the plunger 34 lies within this enlarged portion 31 of the bore 9. The parts are so proportioned and arranged that although the rod 33 is less in diameter than is the enlarged portion 31 of the bore 9, thus permitting liquid to flow through the enlarged portion 31 and the rod 38, the extreme end of the rod 38 is adapted to engage the shoulder 4I which terminates the enlarged portion 31, such engagement occurring in the head I3 as it is reciprocated to the extreme inner end of its stroke. Accordingly the end of the rod 38 and the shoulder 4I cooperate to function as a valve and valve seat respectively; and inasmuch as this valve seat 4I is disposed closely adjacent the outlet li of the bore `Si, seating of the end of the rod 38 against the shoulder 4I effectively prevents leakage of liquid through the outlet iI when such engagement is completed.

Through indication of the sealing of the outletA I I of the bore 3 proved in actual use that it permits carrying the toothbrush of our invention filled with dentifrice and ready for use, in the pocket or in luggage and with perfect impunity.

In order to supply dentifrice to the bristles B of the brush it is necessary only to reciprocate the head I3 with respect to the shank 1 one or more times, depending upon the amount of dentifrice desired. When the head I3 is withdrawn to the Fig. 4 position the end of the plunger 34 is removed from the compression chamber 33 permitting dentifrice 23 to ow into the compression chamber. Then when the head I3 is pushed back toward the shank 1 the end of the plunger 34 then enters the compression chamber 36 whereupon continuous motion of the head I3 forces the dentifrice which has been entrapped within the compression chamber 33 through the bore 9 and out the bristles 8 by the outlet II. Principally the parts are so proportioned that a single operation of the pumping mechanism in the manner described will supply a quantity of liquid dentifrice capable of meeting normal requirements. However, if the operator desires a greater quantity of dentifrice upon the bristles he can reciprocate the head i3 as many times as desired.

After the desired amount of dentifrice has been supplied to the bristles 3 in the manner described the operator should rotate the head I3 upon the shank 1, thus causing the pin I to enter the obliquely arranged leg 2! of the slot I1. As hereinabove explained such relative rotation between the parts will develop a wedging action forcing the head tightly onto the shank 1 and insuring tight seating of the end of the rod 38 against its associated valve seat 4I, thus making doubly sure that there will be no inadvertent leakage out of the port II until the pumping mechanism is again released and intentionally reciprocated.

We claim:

l. In a liquid dispenser of the character described, a tubular shank, the bore of said shank having an outlet communicating with the exterior of said shank, a head reciprocably mounted on one end of said shank in telescopic relation therewith and having a cavity therein adapted to receive liquid detergent, one end of said bore terminating in a compression chamber opening to the associated end of said shank to communicate with said cavity, a plunger complementary to said chamber and carried by said head in position to enter said chamber and, as said head approaches the inner end of its stroke, compress liquid entrapped therein and thereby force liquid through said bore to said outlet, means within said bore presenting a valve seat adjacent said outlet, a rod carried by said plunger and extending therefrom through said bore to engage said seat when said head reaches said end of its stroke, and means for releasably locking said head with said rod in sealing engagement with said seat.

2. In a liquid dispenser of the character described, a tubular shank, the bore of said shank having an outlet communicating with the exterior of said shank, a head rotatably and reciprocably mounted on one end of said shank in telescopic relation therewith and having a cavity therein adapted to receive liquid detergent, said bore Vterminating in a compression chamber opening to the associated end of said shank to communicate with said cavity, a plunger complementary to said chamber and carried by said head in position to enter said chamber and, as said head approaches the inner end of its stroke, compress liquid entrapped therein and thereby force liquid through said bore to said outlet, means Within said bore presenting a Valve seat adjacent said outlet, a rod carried by said plunger and extending therefrom through said bore to engage said seat when said head reaches said end of its stroke, said -head having a slot in that portion thereof which is iniengagement with said head, said slot including a portion extending longitudinally of said head and a portion extending circumferentially thereof, and a pin rigid with said head and slidably disposed within said slot, said circumferential portion of said slot being aligned with said pin When said head is at said inner end of its stroke whereby said head is adapted for rotating to enter said pin into said circumferential-portion of Ysaid slot and thereby lock the parts with said rod in sealing engagement with said seat.

RAYMOND D. CHAIVIPION. LYLE E. FRY. 

